The Writing Road to Reading
First saw here: and a video here.
A kindergarten teacher going over the 70 phonograms. Very helpful. Here and here
Homeschool reviews
How it works:
The program in detail here
First saw here: and a video here.
A kindergarten teacher going over the 70 phonograms. Very helpful. Here and here
Homeschool reviews
How it works:
The program in detail here
It has been a beautiful week. We spent a peaceful afternoon at the museum one day. We spent Friday listening to books, and watching some good documentaries on Netflix. I worked individually with Kyle on creative writing.
I have been enamoured with the Writing Road to Reading, ever since I got it this week. It is nothing short of genius!! The reading itself is a little laborious. This isn't a scripted book like Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. It is very much a book where you have to read 500 pages over and over and over again until you "get it". You have to catch the philosophy and then make it work for you. There is no lesson plans or step by step instructions. What I appreciate about the 100 Easy Lessons, is that it is totally scripted and it takes the guess-work away. I never have to worry about when to move on, or when to introduce a new sound. When I taught my oldest son I used the script verbatim, now, I do not; but I very much enjoy knowing what to teach when, and when to move on. The Writing Road to Reading is probably not a book I could have started out with, without any experience with teaching reading or knowing the reading process. It can be done. I just don't really know if I could have done at the time.
Pros:
-I love that all you need to know if 70 phonograms and 29 spelling words in order to read, write, and spell anything
-the phonograms and spelling rules are organized
-found several helpful videos on you tube, without the videos I would be lost
-LOVE how they teach handwriting in reference to a clock. Example: a and c start at 2 o'clock. We really need this. B/c my main issue with the twins is letter/number reversal
-the six strokes needed to make all the letters in the alphabet (pre-writing)
-this is an entire Language Arts manual for all primary children through middle school
-you learn all the sounds for "a" :a in cat, a in lake, a in awesome. Every phonogram(or sound) with more than one sound, you learn all the sounds
-LOVE the notation system. It is Genius.
-Love the teaching of syllabus immediately, to spell and read words
Cons:
-The system is great, the book is not very user friendly; although I can tell they really tried. What would make it more user friendly is actually having lesson plans. But that is kind of against the author's philosophy. She wants teachers to have the freedom to implement the strategy as they see fit. The company does sell lesson plans for $70 bucks a grade.
This week I'm making the 70 phonogram cards and laminating them. I may also make some word cards.
I never had to teach sight words with my oldest son, he just picked them up naturally and easily without extra effort on my part. We never did worksheets. I remember being so confused about what they were for. Why does he need to circle the "a" in bat if he knows how to read bat??? These questions perplexed me to no end. Now I understand... Worksheets aren't for everyone, but they are for someone. I'm learning with the twins that they need extras and the more extras the better for them. Kason is learning right along side them and is enjoying every minute of it.
I picked up these cubes from the dollar tree and wrote their sight words on them. They are learning four sight words a week.
The pictures are dollar tree flashcards that I cut up.
They couldn't wait for reading today!!!!! It was a huge success.
We made lots of silly setences.
Another help has been Hubbards Cupboard's free sight word boolets. Talk about cool, they have black and white copies that you can print for them to read and color. A color version (I let the kids read the color version) AND a video of the book that you can watch and listen to. Wow!!!!
I've been waiting and waiting to get this message, like a kid in a candy store. One resource that the Duggars highly recommend is the ministry of Dr. S.M Davis. I've had several (60)of his sermons on my wish list for the last year. Please look at his amazing website and read it. Anyway this morning, I was so thrilled to find What to Expect from a Twelve Year Old and other messages for FREE!!!!!! at biblepreaching.com
On Dr.Davis' website he also has free worksheets for lots of his sermons.
I am so thankful that God does give us everything we need for life and godliness.
Reading with my snuggle bear.
Kyle working studiously. 
And leisurely.
Kason woke up sick one day this week, it only lasted one day. He was so patheic!!
After his self-induced nap, he woke up feeling better. I love pictures of them reading.
Kendal will be walking soon!!! He's such a big boy. He has teeth and stands, and I think he's trying to wean himself. I've never had a baby do that.
Kaden loves math! It's exciting to see him really identifying with numbers. He does addition at fun4thebrain.com everyday. 
Writing numbers in shaving cream.
